Ito Masamune said excitedly, "As expected of the Prime Minister, he also understands medicine!"
Wang Canghai smiled and said, "How much more sulfur and cold water stone does your Izumo country have? Our Great Qian country's Medical Saint and Heavenly Mountain Healers are in great need of these two items recently."
Ito Masamune replied, "We have quite a bit of cold water stone, which can be transported and sold, as long as Great Qian country can afford the price. As for sulfur, although our country is rich in natural sulfur, that is relative to other countries. In fact, it's not particularly abundant, so..."
Liang Xiao, feigning disgust, shot Ito Masamune a sidelong glance.
He knew very well that Izumo country produced a considerable amount of sulfur. After all, it had volcanoes, and its geographical environment was very similar to that of the island nation that lived a good life.
As for cold water stone, it was actually gypsum.
Ito Masamune clearly didn't want to give it away for free and intended to inflate the price.
Wang Canghai frowned, "Ambassador Ito, our Great Qian country is showing sincerity in doing business with your Izumo country. Although sulfur is as precious as gold, we are offering twenty taels per jin, which is quite generous, isn't it?"
"This thing stinks to the heavens, is it really that expensive?" Liang Xiao asked, clearly unconvinced.
Ito Masamune, fearing that Liang Xiao might interfere and drive down the price of sulfur, quickly agreed.
"After I return to my country, I will discuss with the merchants and transport more sulfur and cold water stone to sell in your East Sea!"
Wang Canghai was finally satisfied. Representing Great Qian, he signed an order with Ito Masamune, requesting twenty thousand jin of sulfur, one hundred thousand jin of cold water stone, and several thousand jin of other materials.
After leaving the Honglu Temple, Liang Xiao and Wang Canghai left with smiles, an unspoken understanding between them.
Materials like cold water stone were merely a cover; in reality, Great Qian country was not short of them at all.
On the way home, sharp-eyed citizens recognized Liang Xiao's carriage through his guards.
"The Marquis of An Guo is out!"
The common people along the road were all excited and bowed in thanks to Liang Xiao's convoy.
"Thank the Marquis of An Guo for allowing us to read and write!!"
Faced with the enthusiasm of the people, Liang Xiao couldn't help but respond. He got out of the carriage and declared, "You don't need to be so polite. This is all the Emperor's will. When everyone can read, they won't always be deceived!"
Liang Xiao's words were not mere pleasantries. With more literate citizens, at least in areas where imperial authority did not reach the counties, the powerful aristocratic families and local gentry would no longer dare to misinterpret official documents or imperial decrees to fool the people.
Just then, two graceful figures approached Liang Xiao from a distance, their steps light and elegant. They curtsied.
"Gong Xue (Gong Yu) thanks the Marquis of An Guo~"
The two women were stunningly beautiful, and their voices were like celestial music, causing the surrounding citizens to be captivated.
Liang Xiao asked in confusion, "What is there to thank?"
He had heard about the "phoenix-like beauty" and felt something was amiss.
An elder in front of the two women, Gong Mingqing, explained, "Our Xichuan region was once plagued by smallpox. Our entire family was in a heavily affected area. Thanks to the Marquis of An Guo promoting smallpox vaccination, our family was indirectly saved!"
The two women looked at Liang Xiao, sending alluring glances, "The Marquis of An Guo serves the country and the people, his prestige extends throughout the land. We, humble women, admire him immensely..."
Liang Xiao's heart sank, realizing the situation was not right.
As expected, the surrounding citizens began to discuss, "These two, Mr. Pang previously divined their fortunes and said they possessed phoenix-like beauty, destined for great nobility..."
The two women, like startled fawns, hid behind their father, Gong Mingqing, and said softly, "One cannot always believe what fortune tellers say~"
Liang Xiao glanced at the father and daughters, then flicked his sleeves and got back into his carriage, saying coldly, "This Marquis already has a wife managing the household. Recently, I was blessed with six sons, and I am deeply honored by the Emperor's favor. I am eternally grateful for the country's grace. I hope you three will not disrupt this Marquis's family, nor disrupt the loyalty between ruler and minister, lest this Marquis turns ruthless!"
With that, Liang Xiao's convoy set off, leaving the stunned crowd behind.
The surrounding citizens watched as the two women cried, their tears flowing like pear blossoms, making them look pitiable. They advised, "Find good husbands and marry. There are countless beautiful women who admire the Marquis of An Guo, but only a handful can win his heart..."
Gong Xue merely gazed dotingly at Liang Xiao's carriage and murmured to herself, "He can govern the country and also cares for his family, doesn't that prove he is an unparalleled good man..."
The surrounding citizens could only sigh helplessly, "Another two infatuated maidens have fallen."
Inside the carriage, Liang Xiao looked ahead, his expression grave.
The so-called "phoenix-like beauty" seemed more like a scheme to sow discord between him and the Emperor of Great Qian.
If such a woman, who couldn't marry the Emperor, were to marry Liang Xiao?
However, outsiders did not know that the Emperor was actually a woman!
And he, Liang Xiao, had always been extremely wary of women who threw themselves at him.
Western Palace Villa.
Xiao Qing learned of Liang Xiao's affair with Gong Xue and Gong Yu and said coldly, "Prime Minister Grandpa and Zhang Yang had anticipated this. I didn't expect them to really set their sights on Brother Xiao!"
Liang Xiao comforted her, "It's fine. By going along with this father and daughters, we might be able to hook the big fish behind them. Perhaps they are also members of the Rejuvenation Cult."
Xiao Qing then hugged Liang Xiao's arm, reluctant to part, "Brother Xiao is returning to Yanzhou..."
"I'm going to bring Qingxue and the others back to the capital so we can be reunited as a family," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Xiao Qing still looked reluctant, nuzzling Liang Xiao's arm and saying softly, "Brother Xiao will rule the empire with Shuang'er."
Liang Xiao gently stroked Xiao Qing's long hair and sighed, "I will not leave Shuang'er, but this empire must belong to the Xiao family. No one can covet it, and neither can I! Shuang'er..."
"I know..." Xiao Qing mumbled, her heart filled with sweetness.
Liang Xiao saw this and felt increasingly heartbroken. He couldn't help but hold Xiao Qing in his arms.
This little girl was becoming more and more dependent and attached to him. How could he possibly let her down?
"If you're still not pregnant, I'm going to bite you..." Xiao Qing whispered.
Liang Xiao's old face flushed. After a tactical cough, he said softly, "Granny Ning is eavesdropping outside."
Xiao Qing immediately blushed crimson.
The next day, Liang Xiao returned to Yanzhou with his original contingent of a thousand men.
Judging by the time, the soldiers who went to expedition to Helan Mountain would soon arrive in Yanzhou.
As the former deputy marshal, he should personally await them, offer comfort to the three armies, and personally announce Xiao Qing's imperial rewards to them.
Just as Liang Xiao set off, the harvests of three new crops from Liang Xiao's fields in Yanzhou, the capital, and Jiangnan were completed, and large-scale sales began!
"The potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn in the restaurants are really for sale?"
Customers from all over the country who had visited the Liang Brothers' restaurants had recently tasted dishes made from these three new crops and praised them highly.
Upon hearing the news of the sale, all the customers rushed to the market.
Plump potatoes, sweet potatoes, and hundreds of baskets of corn cobs, along with dozens of baskets of plump corn kernels, were displayed in the center of the market.
"Marquis of An Guo's potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn cobs, two wen per jin! Corn kernels, five wen per jin!"
After the vendors shouted, the common people were greatly surprised, "How can it be so cheap?"
"My heavens! No wonder the restaurant provides them for free!"
The common people's shock was understandable.
The price of rice in Great Qian country varied in different regions, but it was at least five wen per jin. In times of disaster, it could sell for dozens of wen per jin!